Geranium plant named `Pink Passion`

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct Pelargonium × hortorum × Pelargonium peltatum cultivar named `Pink Passion` is provided. This new ivy/Zonal Geranium was the result of a controlled breeding program wherein a plant designated 6733-16 (non-patented in the United States) was pollinated by a plant designated 7012B-9 (non-patented in the United States). The new cultivar forms attractive small single deep pink florets having a dark rose eye on each petal. The small medium green foliage is well retained during shipment. The growth habit is compact and self-branching and does not require the use of a growth regulator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Geranium cultivar,botanically known as Pelargonium × hortorum × Pelargonium peltatum, andhereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name `Pink Passion`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program which hadthe objective of the creation of a new Geranium cultivar that exhibitsuniform round umbels, medium green foliage, a compact growth habit, andexcellent basal-branching in the absence of a growth regulator.

The breeding program that resulted in the production of the new cultivarof the present invention was carried out in a controlled environmentduring 1993 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. U.S.A. The female parent (i.e.,seed parent) was a plant designated 6733-16 (non-patented in the UnitedStates) which exhibits single hot pink florets with an eye and mediumgreen foliage. The male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was a plantdesignated 7012B-9 (non-patented in the United States) which exhibitssemi-double light pink florets with medium green foliage. The parentageof the new `Pink Passion` cultivar can be summarized as follows:

    6733-16 × 7012B-9.

`Pink Passion` was discovered and selected during 1993 as a highlydistinctive flowering plant from among the progeny of the stated crossat Arroyo Grande, California, U.S.A. This plant was initially designatedBFP-1313.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits attractive small single deep pink florets having a deeprose eye on each petal,

(b) forms attractive small medium green foliage with slight zonation,and

(c) exhibits a compact cascading self-branching growth habit in theabsence of a growth regulator.

After senescence the flowers abscise and drop. To date, observations ofthe new `Pink Passion` cultivar have not demonstrated resistance toBotrytis or any other specific disease.

The first act of asexual reproduction of the `Pink Passion` cultivar wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif., U.S.A.,by a technician working under the direction and supervision of theoriginator of the new cultivar. Horticultural examination of plantsresulting from such asexual propagation during 1994 has demonstratedthat the combination of unique characteristics as herein described forthe `Pink Passion` cultivar is fixed and is retained through successivegenerations of such asexual reproduction.

The new `Pink Passion` cultivar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. Accordingly, the described phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length.

The new cultivar of the present invention provides a unique ivy/ZonalGeranium cross that displays a distinctive multiflora appearance. Theuniqueness of the new cultivar readily has been confirmed through thecombined presence of small dark pink flowers with a dark rose eye, smalldark green foliage, and the compact and cascading growth habit of theoverall plant.

The new cultivar of the present invention is being marketed under theGalleria trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows the new `Pink Passion` cultivar withcolors being as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in a color illustration of this character. The plant was beinggrown in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. The generalappearance of the overall plant including the flower and foliagecharacteristics is illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in greenhouses located at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A., underconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. In the following description, color references are made to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.The color values were determined on September 22nd, under natural lightconditions of 200 footcandles.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium × hortorum × Pelargonium peltatum, cv. `PinkPassion`.

Commercial.--Ivy/Zonal Geranium.

Inflorescence

A. Umbel:

Average diameter.--Approximately 5.5 to 7 cm.

Average depth.--Approximately 4.5 to 5 cm.

Peduncle length.--Approximately 6.3 to 11.4 cm.

Pedicel length.--Approximately 1.5 to 1.8 cm.

Number of umbels plant.--When grown in a 10 cm. pot at 9 weeks after thesticking of a rooted cutting, there commonly are approximately 2 to 4umbels per plant.

Number of florets/umbel.--When grown in 10 cm. pots at 9 weeks,approximately 10 to 14 florets per umbel commonly are formed.

Buds.--Elliptic and lateral facing in configuration, initiallyRed-Purple Group 62D and changing to Red Group 52C at the time ofopening, and approximately 6 to 8 mm. in length and approximately 4 to 5mm. in width.

Pedicels.--Commonly approximately 1.5 to 1.8 cm in length.

B. Corolla:

Average diameter.--Approximately 4.2 to 4.3 cm.

Form.--Single and occasionally with one petaloid.

Petals.--Spatulate shaped, irridescent in appearance, and smooth.Commonly five non-imbricate petals are present per floret.

Number of petaloids.--When present, commonly only a single petaloid isobserved.

Color.--General tonality from a distance of three meters: Bright pink.Adaxial: Red-Purple Group 66B with the lower three petals having a spotof Red Group 53C near the base and the upper two petals having largerareas of Red Group 53C commonly overlapped with a small area ofRed-Purple Group 66D to Red-Purple Group 62D at the base. The petalcoloration tends to fade somewhat with age. Abaxial: Red-Purple Group66C with veins of Red-Purple Group 66B.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--The anthers are commonly approximately 2 to 2.5 mm. inlength. The pollen color is Orange Group 28A. The filaments areapproximately 6 to 7 mm. in length.

Gynoecium.--The pistil length commonly is approximately 12 mm. There isa single stigma which commonly has a length of approximately 7 mm. whichbranches into 5 parts, the ovary is approximately 2 mm. in length andthe style length is approximately 3 mm.

Fertility.--Commonly does not produce fruits in the absence ofmechanical fertilization.

D. Spring flowering response period: Approximately 6 to 7 weeks fromrooted cuttings under standard greenhouse conditions.

E. Outdoor flower production: Freely flowering under outdoor growingconditions with substantially continuous blooming.

F. Durability: Ships well.

Plant

A. Foliage: Medium green with slight zonation. The leaf texture ispilose, and the rib and vein pattern is palmate.

Form.--Reniform, with a cordate base.

Margin.--Bi-crenate.

Color.--Adaxial: Yellow-Green Group 147B with a ring around the centerof Yellow-Green Group 147A. Abaxial: Yellow-Green Group 147B.

Size.--Approximately 5 to 7 cm. in width at the widest point andapproximately 4.5 to 6.5 cm. in length.

Petioles.--Are pubescent and approximately 2.6 to 2.8 cm. in length.

B. General appearance and form:

Branching pattern.--Freely basal-branching. No pinching is required toobtain self-branching. A compact cascading self-branching growth habitis observed in the absence of a growth regulator.

Height.--Approximately 14 to 20 cm. above a 10 cm. pot at 9 weeks understandard greenhouse conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `PinkPassion`, substantially as herein shown and described, which:(a)exhibits attractive small single deep pink florets having a deep roseeye on each petal, (b) forms attractive small medium green foliage withslight zonation, and (c) exhibits a compact cascading self-branchinggrowth habit in the absence of a growth regulator.